Upper Iowa fell in a pair of pitcher's duels on Sunday afternoon at the University of Sioux Falls. USF took game one 3-0 before picking up a win in a closer 2-1 ballgame in the seven-inning non-conference rematch. Following the game, Upper Iowa moves to 12-20 on the season, 10-15 in the NSIC while Sioux Falls becomes 17-15 overall, 12-15 in the conference.
 
GAME ONE: Sioux Falls 3, Upper Iowa 0

After a scoreless first three innings, Sioux Falls tallied two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Two hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly did the damage. Prior to that point, Peacock starter Duncan Snider had allowed just a trio of runners on, all via walk. Snider's day came to an end after the inning. The tall right-hander allowed two runs, one earned on two hits and four walks while setting down six on strikes in four innings on the hill. 

Chris Webber came on in relief in the fifth where he allowed another run to come home on a pair of singles and two walks. Webber ended the frame strong by striking out two Cougars with the bases loaded thus preventing further damage. Webber matched a career-high four innings in relief, the appearance was highlighted by a 1-2-3 seventh inning and five strikeouts. The Adams, Minn. native allowed just one earned run on five hits and a pair of free passes.

The Peacock bats remained dormant in the later innings resulting in the 3-0 defeat. UIU had three hits in the game, two of which belonged to Jake Hilmer. Matt Graham, the NSIC innings leader, went the distance for USF fanning seven in nine innings on the bump.

GAME TWO: Sioux Falls 2, Upper Iowa 1

Upper Iowa got on the board first in the top of the second inning. The run came manufactured as Alex Greene shot a double to the opposite field, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then came around to score on a Nolan Drill groundout. 

Sioux Falls evened things up at one in the bottom of the third. A pair of errors put a Cougar on third base before the run came home on a double steal. USF took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth following a hit batsman and a trio of singles to go ahead 2-1. The Peacocks could not retaliate in the ensuing frame resulting in the narrow loss. 

Casey Zarr got his first career start for UIU allowing one unearned run on a pair of base hits and two walks in three innings of work. Logan DeWulf came in for relief and kicked off the outing with a 1-2-3 inning. DeWulf's day ended after 1.2 scoreless innings, he allowed one hit and struck out one. Jason Katz followed, facing two batters before Sam Marhefke closed out the game. Marhefke was awarded the loss after allowing the winning run to score, but the junior did have a pair of strikeouts in his 1.1 innings of work.

PEACOCKS OF THE DAY...

• Snider: 4.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 K, 4 H, 2 BB

• Webber: 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 K, 5 H, 2 BB

• Zarr: 3.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K

• Dewulf: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K

• Hilmer: 3-6

• Greene: 1-6 w/ a 2B, 1 R

UP NEXT… Upper Iowa will play a midweek doubleheader at Winona State on Wednesday, April 28.